Top waters

[iiTzChunky]

So I've got a couple of these now, havnt had any luck with them yet besides a pad crasher, do I just walk these or what? 

[the reel ess]

What are they?

[kickerfish1]

Topwater is a broad category of surface lures. Could you be more specific about what you are asking about at least in terms of baits. There are walking baits like spooks, various popping baits, buzz baits, prop style baits, etc.

I would try using topwater early in the morning or later in the evening if you aren't catching much on them in the heat. Most of the morning topwater bite here is done by 7:30 or so unless there is some cloud cover.

[iceintheveins]

1 hour ago, kickerfish1 said:

Topwater is a broad category of surface lures. Could you be more specific about what you are asking about at least in terms of baits. There are walking baits like spooks, various popping baits, buzz baits, prop style baits, etc.

I would try using topwater early in the morning or later in the evening if you aren't catching much on them in the heat. Most of the morning topwater bite here is done by 7:30 or so unless there is some cloud cover.

X2

[Cgrinder]

Yes. 

[iiTzChunky]

9 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

Topwater is a broad category of surface lures. Could you be more specific about what you are asking about at least in terms of baits. There are walking baits like spooks, various popping baits, buzz baits, prop style baits, etc.

I would try using topwater early in the morning or later in the evening if you aren't catching much on them in the heat. Most of the morning topwater bite here is done by 7:30 or so unless there is some cloud cover.

Sorry, I have a hula popper and havnt ever got a hit on it. I just got some Gary Yamamoto popper today and got a few hits on it, granted they all missed but they where at least going for it. 

[Bluebasser86]

1 hour ago, iiTzChunky said:

Sorry, I have a hula popper and havnt ever got a hit on it. I just got some Gary Yamamoto popper today and got a few hits on it, granted they all missed but they where at least going for it. 

Hula Poppers are pure poppers, no walking going on with those things. Never tried the GY baits.

I think a lot of people overwork their poppers. A couple light twitches and let them sit for a few seconds, repeat. Don't need to do any massive jerks and big chugs most of the time. Poppers are a target bait to me. Cast them at cover, weed edges, next to docks, fish them a little ways past then reel in and repeat. If you want to cover a large area you'll be better served by a buzzbait or a spook. 

[frosty]

6 hours ago, iiTzChunky said:

Sorry, I have a hula popper and havnt ever got a hit on it. I just got some Gary Yamamoto popper today and got a few hits on it, granted they all missed but they where at least going for it. 

Ah the classic hula popper. Work it really slow, like cast it out and wait for the water to settle down around it before TWITCHING it, then let the water settle again and repeat. That thing has a knack for making bass mad as it sits up there mocking them  try the smaller size hula popper and see if that makes a difference, the bass around here are being finicky right now, and the smaller lure size seems to help. 

[iiTzChunky]

2 hours ago, frosty said:

Ah the classic hula popper. Work it really slow, like cast it out and wait for the water to settle down around it before TWITCHING it, then let the water settle again and repeat. That thing has a knack for making bass mad as it sits up there mocking them  try the smaller size hula popper and see if that makes a difference, the bass around here are being finicky right now, and the smaller lure size seems to help. 

Ah ok, that's how I've been working it and I never get a hit. Maybe because its a high pressure lake I'm sure most the bass have already seen one. 

[gim]

17 hours ago, iceintheveins said:

X2

X3

18 hours ago, kickerfish1 said:

Topwater is a broad category of surface lures. Could you be more specific about what you are asking about at least in terms of baits. There are walking baits like spooks, various popping baits, buzz baits, prop style baits, etc.

I would try using topwater early in the morning or later in the evening if you aren't catching much on them in the heat. Most of the morning topwater bite here is done by 7:30 or so unless there is some cloud cover.

THIS

[frosty]

1 hour ago, iiTzChunky said:

Ah ok, that's how I've been working it and I never get a hit. Maybe because its a high pressure lake I'm sure most the bass have already seen one. 

Could be. Do you see bass following it? Sometimes if you have one checking it out I'll let it sit and let the skirt spread out, then give it a slight twitch, don't make it pop, that usually scares the fish when their close, just enough to make the skirt pop a little, and always remember, fish are like women, sometimes slow is better, sometimes fast, sometimes they just don't want it at all...

[Tygaiser7]

Poppers are my favorite topwater. I caught my 2 biggest fish of the night in our tournament last week on one a 4.52 pounder and a 4.37

[the reel ess]

12 hours ago, iiTzChunky said:

Sorry, I have a hula popper and havnt ever got a hit on it. I just got some Gary Yamamoto popper today and got a few hits on it, granted they all missed but they where at least going for it. 

I just recently caught my first bass ever on a Hula Popper and I'm 45. LOL. The time of day you're using them can have a lot to do with success. Early morning or evening are the best times for topwaters. I'd prefer the Hula Popper in a smaller body of water with weeds. I just see this as a frog imitator and that to me makes it less likely to draw strikes in open water. I use the popper when I see some surface baitfush activity or when bass are chasing the bait to the surface. Then you can just throw to the swirl and pop it fast and loud.

Neither of these require walking, but practice the cadence of the retrieve until the fish show you how they want it. I usually will start with three short pops-rest-repeat. Then adjust.

[TxHawgs]

These guys covered it, just want to say that I fish a very high pressured lake also. Lake Fork in Tx, and right now the morning topwater bite has fallen off. But a cpl months ago I was catching some good 5lbrs on the Yellow Magic popper. I love that bait, and all my big fish came while my popper was just sitting there. My one boater hooked into a giant, had to be 8lbs while his popper was just sitting also. Another tip esp when tournament fishing, I throw these on my Metanium XG since I don't work it very far so I can get it back to the boat faster and get it back out there.